North Melbourne's Gavin Urquhart has been rewarded for his career-best performance last weekend with the AFL's Round 18 Rising Star award nomination.

The 20-year-old Queenslander gathered 22 disposals in the Kangaroos come-from-behind win at Carrara on Saturday night against the Brisbane Lions as North Melbourne leapt to fifth spot on the ladder.

Recruited from Morningside Football Club, Urquhart has slotted into defence since making his AFL debut in Round 10.

In nine matches this season he has averaged 17 possessions.

He was a second-round pick at the 2006 Draft and was taken at No.21 overall.

A rugby league and union player as a junior, Urquhart has made a massive improvement in the past 12 months.

"A year ago Gav was a long way off playing senior football, and this nomination is a credit to the hard work he has done since that time," North Melbourne assistant coach Darren Crocker said on Tuesday.

"He has been a valuable player since coming into the side and we are looking forward to his continued development."

Urquhart is North Melbourne's first Rising Star Nominee in 2008.

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